Cuts due in £19m NHS cash crisis (From Gazette & Herald)

Cuts due in £19m NHS cash crisis

10:40am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

NHS bosses will announce next week where the axe will fall to ease North Yorkshire’s crippling £19 million health budget deficit.

The NHS North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) has confirmed it will be the only trust in England to pass on a debt when it ceases to exist in April and GP groups take over spending decisions.

The deficit will be “passed on proportionally” to the four Clinical Commisioning Groups in the area.

Christopher Long, chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “We are currently the only primary care trust in England declaring a deficit. We have been told that this deficit will be passed on proportionally to the clinical commissioning groups across North Yorkshire and the national NHS Commission Board in the next financial year.

“We are unable to state how much of this deficit will be passed on to each organisation at the moment, as this is still very much a work in progress and could change towards the end of this financial year.

“There has been a recurring deficit in the North Yorkshire health economy for more than six years. Despite every effort made by the commissioners to rectify this, they have been unable to return to financial balance without support.”

It is expected the cost-cutting measures will be announced at the PCT’s public meeting at 10am in the Priory Street Centre on Tuesday.

Dr Mark Hayes, chief clinical officer for the new Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “Starting out with a deficit is not an easy position for us. However, it is one which we fully acknowledge and must factor into our commissioning plans for the future.

“We are awaiting the findings and recommendations of the forthcoming clinical services review before making any decisions on where potential savings could be made.

“When this report is released we will be considering it carefully and we’re committed to involving patients and the public, especially where difficult decisions need to be taken.”